BBQ season linked to increase in heartburn

Summer is the time when many people are most likely to experience heartburn, a survey has found.

A poll of 1,001 adults, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Procter & Gamble, found that 46 per cent of heartburn sufferers cited barbecue season as the worst time of year for symptoms.

Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) revealed that their condition often interferes with their social life, with one in three avoiding summer barbecues and 60 per cent adjusting holiday plans because of their symptoms.

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Furthermore, three-quarters claimed they would rather forget to take sunscreen than their heartburn medication when jetting off on their summer holiday.

Dr Su Sachar, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, advised people with frequent heartburn - more than two to three times a week - to visit their GP.

"For most of my patients experiencing frequent heartburn, I recommend eliminating the most common heartburn triggers, such as coffee, alcohol, chocolate and spices."

However, Dr Sachar noted that another way to address the problem is to take a medication that blocks the acid that causes heartburn.

Heartburn is a common symptom of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, a digestive condition that affects around one in five people each week.

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